PEARL Newman, 79, of La Porte gets a kiss from her son-in-law Phil Walters while waiting to be evacuated from the Pasadena Convention Center on Thursday. The National Guard assisted people who had special needs or no transportation leave ahead of Hurricane Ike. Most of the evacuees were headed for Corsicana. less

PEARL Newman, 79, of La Porte gets a kiss from her son-in-law Phil Walters while waiting to be evacuated from the Pasadena Convention Center on Thursday. The National Guard assisted people who had special needs ... more

TRAFFIC backs up on Interstate 45 northbound near The Woodlands on Thursday as residents evacuate the greater Houston area in anticipation of Hurricane Ike. Thousands joined the exodus from mandatory evacuation zones, but others, not ordered to leave, opted to retreat anyway. less

TRAFFIC backs up on Interstate 45 northbound near The Woodlands on Thursday as residents evacuate the greater Houston area in anticipation of Hurricane Ike. Thousands joined the exodus from mandatory evacuation ... more

Amanda Hart, 11, of Galveston, makes her own shade on Thursday under a blanket next to her and her family's luggage, as hundreds waited for buses at the Island Community Center in Galveston that would take them to a shelter for storm evacuees in Austin. less

Amanda Hart, 11, of Galveston, makes her own shade on Thursday under a blanket next to her and her family's luggage, as hundreds waited for buses at the Island Community Center in Galveston that would take them ... more

Lori Hill and other emergency personnel prepare infant patients Thursday for a flight at Scholes International Airport in Galveston. Fifty-one newborns, 27 of them from intensive care, were moved from the University of Texas Medical Branch to hospitals in San Antonio and Austin. less

Lori Hill and other emergency personnel prepare infant patients Thursday for a flight at Scholes International Airport in Galveston. Fifty-one newborns, 27 of them from intensive care, were moved from the ... more

Audrey Kjorlaug of Dickinson listens as she tries to tune in to a radio station while waiting to be evacuated by bus from staging site at Charles T. Doyle Convention Center in Texas City to a shelter in Austin.

Audrey Kjorlaug of Dickinson listens as she tries to tune in to a radio station while waiting to be evacuated by bus from staging site at Charles T. Doyle Convention Center in Texas City to a shelter in Austin.

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Chronicle

Audrey Kjorlaug of Dickinson listens as she tries to tune in to a... Photo-1431672.24496 - Houston Chronicle

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Amanda Hart, 11, of Galveston, makes her own shade under a blanket next to her and her family's luggage, as hundreds waited for busses that would take them to a shelter in Austin at the Island Community Center in Galveston Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. less

Amanda Hart, 11, of Galveston, makes her own shade under a blanket next to her and her family's luggage, as hundreds waited for busses that would take them to a shelter in Austin at the Island Community Center ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Chronicle

Amanda Hart, 11, of Galveston, makes her own shade under a blanket... Photo-1431856.24496 - Houston Chronicle

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Rusty Legg, left, holds the ladder for John Moore as Chris Robertson boards up the window on Legg's 1895 home Sept. 11 in Galveston. Legg plans to stay and ride out the storm in his home.

Rusty Legg, left, holds the ladder for John Moore as Chris Robertson boards up the window on Legg's 1895 home Sept. 11 in Galveston. Legg plans to stay and ride out the storm in his home.

Some of the 45 dogs that were evacuated from the Brazoria SPCA to the Houston SPCA on Sept. 10. Ten cats were also brought to the SPCA. The animals will be transported back to Brazoria SPCA once it is safe to return. On Sept. 11, the Houston SPCA will be sending at least 100 animals to the Dallas SPCA to make room for more evacuated animals. less

Some of the 45 dogs that were evacuated from the Brazoria SPCA to the Houston SPCA on Sept. 10. Ten cats were also brought to the SPCA. The animals will be transported back to Brazoria SPCA once it is safe to ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Chronicle

Some of the 45 dogs that were evacuated from the Brazoria SPCA to... Photo-1431860.24496 - Houston Chronicle

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Mark Stamey (left) and his son, Elliot (right) of Houston, pull out their boat at a boat dock in Jamacia Beach in preparation for Hurricane Ike on Sept. 10.
"We are going to bring it up to Houston," Mark Stamey said. "You don't want to take any chances." less

Mark Stamey (left) and his son, Elliot (right) of Houston, pull out their boat at a boat dock in Jamacia Beach in preparation for Hurricane Ike on Sept. 10.
"We are going to bring it up to Houston," Mark ... more

Robert Sawyer, cuts plywood to board up a home on Jamacia Beach on Sept. 10.

Robert Sawyer, cuts plywood to board up a home on Jamacia Beach on Sept. 10.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Chronicle

Robert Sawyer, cuts plywood to board up a home on Jamacia Beach on... Photo-1431862.24496 - Houston Chronicle

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Sam Broadway (right), Ian Brown (left) and Gary Kimbrell (center), with Sawyer Construction board up a home on Jamacia Beach in Galveston in preparation for Hurricane Ike on Sept. 10. "We've done four and we've got 10 more to do," Kimbrell said. less

Sam Broadway (right), Ian Brown (left) and Gary Kimbrell (center), with Sawyer Construction board up a home on Jamacia Beach in Galveston in preparation for Hurricane Ike on Sept. 10. "We've done four and we've ... more

Rey Villarreal (right) and Vincente Villarreal (left), prepare horses to be driven from Galveston up to Hitchcock on Sept. 10. "You see it out there," Rey Villarreal said. "This area floods, so we got to get them out." less

Rey Villarreal (right) and Vincente Villarreal (left), prepare horses to be driven from Galveston up to Hitchcock on Sept. 10. "You see it out there," Rey Villarreal said. "This area floods, so we got to get ... more